Capital Cities Biography & News

Capital Cities Details

About Capital Cities

Capital Cities tours with Katy Perry

It's been more than a year since Capital Cities released its debut full-length album, "In a Tidal Wave of Mystery." Longer still since the project's first single, "Safe and Sound," was first heard in promotional campaigns for the likes of HBO, Smart Car, Microsoft, Mazda and more. And as the calendar keeps rolling forward, the one thing we can conclude is that the duo is no longer a mystery and their continued popularity is a pretty safe bet.

Shortly after the release of their debut LP, Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian went on their very first North American trek, dubbed the "Dancing With Strangers" tour. It included special guest Gold Fields and kicked off at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, Arizona. A date at New York City's famed Irving Plaza sold out some two months in advance, and the guys also performed at Sundance, SXSW, Sweetlife and ULTRA.

As the popularity of Capital Cities went through the roof, the duo became known for their creative approach to music videos. "Safe and Sound" featured a mash-up of the past 100 years of dance and was nominated for two 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, winning for Best Visual Effects. The video for the follow-up single "Kangaroo Court" tells the story of a zebra who has been forbidden from a club called (you guessed it) The Kangaroo Court. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

Capital Cities is currently opening for Katy Perry on the North American leg of her Prismatic World Tour, which will wrap in October 2014.

Capital Cities Takes the World By Storm (Created April 24, 2013)

A Los Angeles-based duo that found fame via the Internet, Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian have come together as the alt-dance group Capital Cities. From their self-titled debut EP to the uplifting single "Safe and Sound," their brand of electronic-infused pop rock has suddenly and sincerely taken the world by storm.

From one city to another, their popularity continues to soar; it has as much to do with their back story as it does with their music. Simonian was born in war-torn Syria to Armenian parents, but raised in Lebanon until the age of six when his family escaped civil war. He studied piano and voice and sang in choirs, eventually earning a bachelor's degree in music. And he met Merchant -- a bit of a child prodigy in his own right -- thanks to nothing more than a Craigslist ad for music production services.

Think the story can't get better? It does. Merchant and Simonian had such a natural chemistry, their success was nearly instantaneous. An independent self-titled EP attracted a buzz and a host of positive reviews. Influential blogs helped the duo's stock soar, and before long they had self-financed a successful radio campaign and planned tours that took them to South America, Europe and everywhere in between.

In December 2012, Capital Cities signed to Capitol Records. They are expected to release their debut full length album this summer. Supporting the project is the "Dancing with Strangers" tour, set to roll through 35 U.S. cities this spring and summer.

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